Snap fastener



April 2,1946 A. R. MITCHELL 2,397,801

SNAP FASTENE l Filed Oct. 27, 1942 .S7 I S F1537. 'as 22 27 l lnveno'r. Alexander RMTcheH byjmwliww Patented Apr. l2, 1946 ..UNLTf-ED stares fr 'orties 8.-.Claims.

1 Thisinventifonfrelatesftoiimprovements in snap fasteners of- "the type 2 vwhich' v'comprise comp-lem'entaryfmale andernaleff-mernbers: adapted to be; securedto overlappingportions of a lgarment,

upholstery.- and-lother :articles7 Lone off which" members is providedvvith a-*studereleasably to engage a socket Miri-the complementary member. .fand the -generaliobject-cf the' presentf-invention is toprovide a'snapfastenerin which'one or both members is of f elastic synthetic plastic vmaterial.`

- aIn usual snapiastener constructions the complementaiymeinbersware formed" 'or stamped metal having imeans 'adapted to be faixed tol the parts whichH are v to be lunitediby Vthel vfasteners or walls adapted- 'when the stud' is insertedin` the socket releasably -to l-ioldi inthe-rein`- The .mechanisms Lrequir'ed; to -form the 'complementary aparts -\of'- such-*metal fasteners 'are necessarily* fof' 1 complicatedand' expensive`v :con-

struction. "-Furthermore-,Hin-viewlof the shortage `offmetal due4 to 'Warfconditi'ons it isnow" difficult to obtain proper stock -for Y^themanufacture :of y

metallic fasteners. ComplementaryV metal'snap fastener parts fare* manufactured inA individual units and'A usually mountedupon44 the cards in .such manner that'the parts may-be separated and stitched andl otherwise secured to "the" portions fof' the 'articles which 'are'-r to ice 'joined In A some instances-fhofwe'verf.z these #individual snap fastener parts aresecured vrtortapes at suitable intervalssothatthetapescaribe 'sewed tol the .portions 'ofi the -articlesftorbe joined.

T`Thenprinci-pa1 l'objectfof -the-I-l-'present' invention isvto prvidef a; 'snapvv fastenerconstruction." in

which the socket member is of elastic'plasticmathereof.

' The. .'-terms'ifplastic 'niaterialmror rsynthetic "plastic materia ifa-reused-hereirrras `deiining a synthetic material" the rfchief *component of which vis afresinw orotherforganic'binder inwhich single :moleculesfare linkedv together" 'by-polymerization or econdensationf to Yform -larger'moleculeswithout change in chemical composition and-tc ex- ..clu'de mubber and :inorganicifmaterialsL` such as f ceramica;cements;and'thefE like.

.fAnother:objectiontheanvefmonr is wprov'ide a construction inflwhicli astripof'elasticfwaterproof non-corrodible plastic material is provided With suitablyspaced sockets 'and a complementary snap 'fastener memberfprovided comprising a similar strip ofrelastic plasticmaterialprovided with suitable studs'rattched'thereto.atsimi- .larly spaced intervals,` the' elastic' plastic-material being of such characterfasto'be capable of being secured to a suitable tape or directly'td the' goods to which the stripis 'applied-by a lineY or` lines of stitching which'mayl'be ofYthre'ad; aseries of staples, or other suitable penetrating andv interlocking means.

Another object of'thefinve'ntion is-to' provide a strip of elastic plasticfmaterial prvidediivith a series of spaced-sockets adapted to-'beI secured to suitable flexible'material, such as dressl material, furniturecoverings, andthe like,' adapt'ed to receive studs 'of integral material-Whichfcan be cheaply7 made, and which may be secured at like intervals 4to any suitable base, such as a portion'o a garment underlying ther-portion to which the socket strip is attached,A or to a suitable tape adapted to be secured tthe'po'rtion of-'thearticle to be joined to thatftof'which'the 1 elastic plastic strip having sockets is applied-orto'the frame of furniture'. or the like, for 'the' purpose of enabling aslip cover to be detachably secured thereto. y

A further object of the invention is to provide a snap fastener construction "comprising a strip of'elastic plastic material containing contractible sockets formed therein' by` punching Yor moulding which can beA readily constructed vyithout the use of complicated machines, such as are required to produceresilient'metallic's'ocket members, 'and which'vvill'receive and properly retain st/uds of integral construction formed 0f metal, glass, 'plastic material' orany othenmaterial which affords suiiicientrigidityto enable a slightly enlarged head of the stud to bereleasably inserted `in the socket of theplastic strip and Whichwill be` .fof` suilicient" strength properly to hold :the" parts 'to'whichthe snap members areattachedrin releasable engagement.

The development ofthe plastic art is Such that suitable elastic plastic material .can bereadily obtained, such,` for example, as those produced from a cellulose base; polystyrene, or from Varions resins including acrylic or Vinyl resins, elastic plastic products of the latter .of which have been used 'quite extensively in the manufacture of so-calledv Vinylite elastic, glass Suspenders, elastic 'glass belts, and the .like rWhich present smooth glossy surfacesfand in 'which the buckles 2 Y while formed of like resins, which when subjected'to a different degree of polymerization are `of relatively rigid construction.

' The present invention therefore comprises a Y snap fastener construction in which one or bothof the strips having the complementary snap fastener on them may be made of elastic plastic material, one being provided with open' or closed apertures formingV sockets, and the other having formed-integral therewith or secured thereto suitable studs having a head of slightly greater cross sectional area than that of the socket or entrance to the socket in the cooperating socket member.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a stud'having a shank which is longitudinally grooved or corrugated and which will more effectively be engaged by the contracting wall of the Y socket after the head of the stud has been inserted Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional view on line 2-'2 Fig. 1, of one form of stud assembly, the studs being shown in elevation;

, Fig. 3 is a vdetail vertical transverse sectional view of the assembled construction` on an enlarged scale, villustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the stud being shown in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a modified form of an `elastic plastic strip section having the base of the stud embedded therein and showing the stud in elevation;

-Fig. 5Y is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale of amodied form of construction in which solid studs are formed integral with Y the strip of elastic'plastic material;

Fig. 6 is a similar detailY sectional view of an `elastic plastic strip having integral studs extending therefrom, the studs being hollow;

- Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the base of a stud cohesively vsecured to the strip of plastic material;

Fig. 8 is a similar enlarged sectional view showing a stud of plastic material stitched to a suit- Y able base, the shank of the stud being provided with grooves adapted more effectively to be en'- gaged by the contracted wall of the elastic plastic t material of the complementary member;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view on line 9 9 l Fig. 8; Y

Fig. l0 is an enlarged Vdetail sectional View of a section of portions of complementary strips of elastic plastic material. one of which is provided with a closed socket to receive the head of the stud, the base of which is `embedded inthe complementary strip of elastic plasticmaterial; and,

` Fig. l1 is a view of a modied construction of Y the character illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the tape overlies the elastic plastic strip and is se- I cured to it by lines of `longitudinal stitching, thus concealing the head of the stud, the stud being shown as embedded in the complementary elastic plastic strip. v Y p The invention comprises broadly a snap fastener comprising a member preferably in the 3 form of a strip of elastic plastic material .having l an aperture or suitably spaced apertures therein Vrial as that of the elastic Y as shown in Fig, 3.

adapted to permit the enlarged heads of suitable studs to be inserted therethrough and which when so inserted will be releasably held in place by the contraction of the wall of the aperture or apertures, together with a complementary member having secured to it a stud or preferably a plurality of studs spaced similarly to the sockets in the other member, so that the heads of the stud Y or studs may be inserted into the proper socket of such member. f

Y The term socket is used herein as embracing any'opening or hollow'that forms a holder for something whether the opening extends partly or wholly through the member of the snap fastener.'

The term stud as used herein broadly comprises a shank having a suitable base and a head adapted to be inserted in the socket of the comY character that it can be secured to a tape or other base of suitable material by stitching either by thread, staples, or in any other suitable manner. In the construction shown in Fig. 1 a strip I ofrelastic plastic materialis superimposed upon a tape 2 of suitable material withone edge 3 of the elastic plastic strip substantially coincident with a corresponding edge of the tape and is fixedly secured thereto by lines of stitching 4 and 5 extending longitudinally of and adjacent to the edge of the strip. Desirably the strip is provided with grooves 6 and I as illustrated in Fig. 3 to form guides for the lines of stitching.

Suitable studs, which, as illustrated in Figs. 1

and 3, are independently made, are located at Y suitably spaced intervals with the bases 8 of said studs interposed and vheldbetween the elastic plastic stirp I and the tapez, with the' Shanks 9 of the studs extending .through suitable aper- ,A tures lin the elasticV .plastic composition. vThe studs are provided with heads IIJ of slightly larger cross sectional area than that of the sockets'in the complementary snap Vfastener member.

In assembling this snap fastener member the heads of the studs are rstinserted'through the apertures in the elastic'plastic strip I and the Vstrip stitched to the tape in the manner aforesaid,VV thereby clamping the bases of the studs iirmly between the elastic lying tape. Y Y

A complementary snap fastener member comprises a strip II of elastic plastic material having apertures I2 therein or therethrough at suitable spaced intervals corresponding to the spacings of the studs aforesaid, the elastic plastic strip desirably but not necessarily being of the same mateplastic strip in which plastic strip and the underthe studsl are secured. Y As illustrated in Fig. 1 the elastic plastic strip overlies a suitable tape I3 and projects well beyond the edge I4 thereof and is secured to said tape by aline of stitching I5 preferably located in a guiding groove I6 extending parallel to and adjacent vto the edge of the elastic plastic strip,

As heretofore stated thefstuds may be made independently of the elastic plastic strip and `may be of any suitable material, such as metal, glass,

or plastic material, of greater stiffness than the elastic plastic material of 'the strips I0 and II. The studs when 'thus made independently may be secured to the elastic plastic strip in any suitable manner or to a suitable tape or body.

As illustrated in Fig. vl the flat base I1 of a stud or suitably spaced studs I8 is embedded in the strip I of elastic plastic material, the shank of the stud extending through the upper surface thereof aY suitable distance and provided with a head I9 of the character described.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 similar studs are formed integrally with the strip I of elastic plastic material and spacedat suitable intervals corresponding to the spacing of the sockets in the complementary elastic plastic snap fastener member.

Snap fastener strips having studs of this character may be conveniently moulded and if desirable the studs Vmay be tempered to greater stiffness to the body of the strip.

A modified construction is shown in Fig. 6` in which the studs 2| are formed integrally with the elastic plastic strips but are provided with hollow centers which may be formed in any suitable manner during the molding process, as for example by providing for the cavity of the stud or by forcing the elastic plastic material into the core by a central jet of controlled air under pressure. The stud may, if desired, lbe provided with a core ofmetal or other rigid material.

A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 7 in whichthe base 22 of the stud 23 is adhesively secured to the elastic plastic strip I by suitable adhesive VElinor if the stud is formed of elastic plastic material it may be cohesively secured to the strip by a suitable solvent.

Obviously a stud or studs may be secured directly to the tape or suitable body by stitching or stapling or if the body is of wood or other hard material, such as furniture, the stud may be secured to it by suitable brads, nails, or adhesive.

A desirable form of stud is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 which comprises a base 25 secured in any suitable manner to a body 2G, the shank 21 of the stud being provided with a series of grooves or corrugations 28 extending from the base 25 of the stud to the enlarged head 29 thereof adapted more effectively to be gripped by the contracting wall of the aperture of the socket in the complementary elastic plastic strip I I.

A further modified form of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 10 in which a strip of elastic plastic material I is provided with suitable studs 30 having reversely tapered heads 3|. adapted to be seated in a complementary closed recess 32 in the elastic plastic strip II, the lower portion of the wall of the socket desirably being provided with a tapering bevel 33 to facilitate introduction of the stud into the socket.

A modiiied manner of assembling the tape upon the elastic plastic strip of material having the sockets therein is illustrated in Fig. 11 in which the tape I3 overlies the sockets in the elastic plastic strip II with its edge coincident with one edge of the strip, the tape being secured to the strip by lines of stitching 34 and 35 extending longitudinally of the strip adjacent to the edges thereof. In this construction therefore the tape overlies and conceals the head 36 of the stud 37, the base 38 of which may be embedded in the elastic plastic strip I or may be secured thereto or to a suitable base in any of the ways above described.

By reason ofthe present invention snap fasteners are'provided which may be made of nonmetallic materials which are more available than metal required in usual snap fastener constructions and in which the parts can be produced by moulding, extrusion, or otherwise, without'the employment of intricate machinery and the necessary supervision to maintain the machinery in operative condition. The materials employed are waterproof, rustproof, and otherwise non-corrodible, present smooth glossy surfaces and do not require protective coating as do the complementary members of metallic fasteners and thereby further reduce the cost of manufacture.

' Snap `fastener strips made in accordance with the present invention, when sewed upon garments, present'smooth surfaces which will not tear or abrade materials with which they may come invcontact. They need not be removed when the garment is to be laundered as their flexibility will .permit necessary manipulation of the garment andthe resistance to rust or to corrosion by alkalis or other ingredients of the solution used in Washing will avoid injury not only to the fastening members but to the solution and to othergarments with which they may be thrown in'contact.

It will be .understood that various types of plastic or thermoplastic materials having suitable elasticity and' flexibility may be employed for the socket member or members of the snap fastener herein described as certain materials of this sort are now available and that the studs may be formed of any suitable material, but preferably of a polymerizedY plastic or thermoplastic material integral with the strip and polymerized or otherwise tempered to greater stiffness than that ofthe elastic plastic strip containing the socket, and that various changes in form of the elements of the snap fastener may be made, the particular constructions herein described being illustrative of but not restrictive of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A snap fastener assembly comprising complementary strips of elastic polymerized vinyl plastic `material capable of being stitched to a suitable base, one of which strips is provided at suitable intervals with stud-receiving sockets, and the other of which is provided at like intervals with integral studs of relatively hard temper having heads of slightly greater cross sectional capable of being readily stitched to members of the article to be fastened, one of said strips having suitably spaced sockets along its length each adapted to be resiliently enlarged by expansive pressure exertedupon the wall thereof and the other strip provided at similarly spaced intervals with relatively rigid studs having shanks anchored to said strip by the elastic material of the strip and having heads of slightly greater cross sectional area lthan that of the sockets.

3. A snap fastener comprising a pair of complementary narrow strips each of elastic synthetic waterproof ncn-corrodible plastic material capable of being readily stitched to members of the article to be fastened, one of said strips having suitably spaced sockets along its length each adapted to be resiliently enlarged by expansive pressure. exerted upon. the: wall.n thereof; and the other strip provided; at similarlyspaced intervals with relatively rigid. studsh'avingxshanks embed-` ded: and; anchored in the elastic; material: of.V said strip and: integral headsf off slightly greater cross.v

sectional area th-an the sockets;

4; A snapy fastener comprisingv a pair Ofcom-` plementary'narrow strips each ofv elastic synthetic WaterproofV non-corrodible plastic material capaf lo ble of being readily; stitched to members-of the article to` be fastened, one of said strips having suitably spaced sockets along its length each adapted to be resiliently enlargedfby expansive pressure exerted upon the wall thereof and the other strip provided at similarlyspaced intervals Withrelatively'rigid studs each having a base and a portion of the shankthereof embedded in and tively rigid studs integral withV and projectingy from saidfstrip and provided'with heads of slightly greater cross sectional area. than the sockets. GLA snap fastener comprising a pair of complementary-narrovv strips each of elastic synthetic waterproof non-corrodible plastic material having a glossy surfacefand capable of being readily stitched to members of the article to be fastened, one of said strips: having; suitably spaced sockets along its/length adapted to'be .resiliently enlarged byexpan'sive pressurerexertediupoir the wall-thereof, andthe other strip providedfat. similjarlyspaced intervals with relatively rigid studs of like-plastic material havingyshanks embeddedin the elastic materialofv said strip and-integral heads of slightly greater cross sectional area'th'anthe sockets.

7. As an article of manufacture a snap'fastener assemblyA adaptedv to bev secured'to members of the article to'be fastened comprising a narrow strip Vof elastic syntheticI Waterproof non-corrodible plastic material stitchedv along one edge to a suitable exible tape and extending over the edge thereof and provided with suitably spacedstudreceiving sockets and a complementary strip of like synthetic plastic-material. secured along both edges'thereof to the edgeportion of a llexible tapeV and provided with studs of relatively stili Y plastic material embedded therein. at similar-ly spaced intervals and having heads; of.- slightly greater cross sectional area than that of said sockets adapted releasably to engage saidvsockets.`

8. A snapl fastener for securing-together edge portions of colored textile materials comprising, al

pair ofy complementary strips'eachof elasticsynthetic, normally transparent, Waterproof non-y corrodible plasticmaterialcapable of being readily stitched to a suitable base impregnated with a color adapted to harmonizewith the color of the material to which it is applied, oneof said strips having at suitably spacedA intervals studreceiving sockets along its length adapted to be enlarged by expansive pressure exerted upon the Wall thereoffand the: other. strip provided with similarly spaced rigid studs of, like material having shanks anchored to: said strip by the elastic materialA of the strip and having headsof slightlyl greater cross sectional area than that of said sockets.

ALEXANDER R. MITCHELL. 

